While the North Island plans to cope with bad weather associated with Cyclone Pam, festival organisers at the Te Ahuareka o Ngāti Hine Festival in Northland are welcoming it.
The two day biennial festival started today and is being held at Ōtiria Marae near Whangārei and celebrates the identity of Ngāti Hine.
Kapa haka performers on stage at the Te Ahuareka o Ngati Hine festival at Otiria Marae near Whangarei. Photo: Ngati Hine FM
Chairperson of the organising committee, Pita Tipene, said as soon as the event wraps up on Saturday night, the heavy rain the MetService is forecasting could be actually helpful.
"Look our organising committee have got a 'plan B', we've planned for the worst, but at the moment things are, it's raining sunshine here and there's absolutely no wind at all", said Mr Tipene.
"We know that 'Pamela' is on the way but it seems as though our karakia [incantations] have been strong enough to keep her away because as many Ngāti Hine people will know we welcome the rain in March because that brings the tuna whakaheke [eel migration], the silver belly eels and it's a delicacy here.
"So as soon as we close up tomorrow afternoon, late afternoon [Saturday], it can rain all it likes".
Mr Tipene said a few thousand people had packed out Ōtiria Marae on the first day of the festival and he is expecting thousands more to attend on Saturday despite the rainy and windy forecast.
